Inspired by...: Inspired by . . . Day 11: His Name, El Elyon

Inspired by . . . Day 11: His Name, El Elyon

El Elyon “The Most High God”

‛elyôn
el-yone'
an elevation, that is, (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the Supreme: - (Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most).

This name of God stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy. Like the transcendent character of God, it illustrates His position.

I will be glad and rejoice in Thee:

I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou most High. Psa 9:2

God is Transcendent

TRANSCEND'ENT, a. [L. transcendens.] Very excellent; superior or supreme in excellence; surpassing others; as transcendent worth; transcendent valor.

In the OT the word excellent, or excellence is used most often to describe this character of God.

Let them praise the name of the LORD:

for His name alone is excellent;

His glory is above the earth and heaven. Psa 148:13

The Hebrew word is:

śâgab
saw-gab'
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) lofty, especially inaccessible; by implication safe, strong; used literally and figuratively: - defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong.

I can remember one particularly clear and cold night in Vermont. There was no moon. The little hamlet where we lived had no street lights, no Wal-Mart parking lot lights to illuminate the sky. It was very dark.

As I stepped outside, presumably to say goodbye to some company that was late in leaving - - those details are gone from my memory - - I remember gasping as my eyes were drawn heavenward.

The stars were so bright and clear that one felt able to reach up and touch them. There was almost more white light than black sky, so abundant were the stars.

Of course, they are always there, the stars, we just can’t see all of them with our short-sighted, naked eyes.

God is above the stars. He is beyond our galaxy and the millions of other galaxies that we now know exist. The more we see and learn of space, the smaller we become, and larger God becomes.

God is not simply the highest in an order of beings. This would grant Him eminence, but He is more than eminent. He is transcendent - - existing above and beyond the created universe.

The LORD is high above all nations,

and His glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God, Who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth Himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
Psa 113:4-6

The challenge here is not to let this Truth of God make Him feel distant and unapproachable. His ways may be higher than ours, as Isaiah 55 reminds us, but Paul makes it clear in Acts 17 that God is very near to each one of us.

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth,

having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

that they should seek God,

and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him.

Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for

"'In Him we live and move and have our being'; Act 17:26-28

Rather than feeling distant, this Truth of God should cause us to worship Him, and praise His name. To stand in wonder and marvel at the fact that such a God would be mindful of us and show us mercy.